The Kabikaj Foundation – one manuscript at a time…

یا کبیکج

Welcome to a growing repository of rare books, manuscripts, archival records, folios, codices, ephemera, and historical documents—primarily in Persian, Urdu, Dakhni, and Arabic, with select English texts.

More than just preservation, we are dedicated to researching, documenting, and critically engaging with these texts.
We also welcome scholars and researchers whose interests align with ours, offering support and collaboration in their explorations.

kabikaj55

Rare Books & Manuscripts | Publishing House | Study Circle & Academy
Literary Wing: @anjumanef
یا کبیکج احفظ ھذا الورق

From a 250-year-old Mughal-era document preserved

From a 250-year-old Mughal-era document preserved at the Telangana State Archives in Hyderabad, a stunning Tasmiyah crowns an official firman concerning the Holy Dip in the Ganga river.

Featured in Syed Muhammad ( @syed.mohammedd )'s latest piece for @the_hindu , the calligraphy features a traditional, extended, and now uncommon form of Tasmiya: 'Bi-ismihi Taʿālā' instead of the standard 'Bismillāh'. The addition of 'Sha’nahu' further reflects its Indo-Persian style, penned in elegant Nastaʿlīq script with indelible gold and red ink on a handmade paper.
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#kabikaj #firman #mughal #Tasmiyah #basmalah #bismillah #arabic #persian #royal #handmade #paper #handmadepaper #ink #gold #red #Aurangzeb #Hyderabad #deccan #ganga #riverganga #ganges #tax #southasianhistory #history #archives #telangana #mughals #mughalhistory #indianhistory

Sharing these lovely notes from our visitors at ou

Sharing these lovely notes from our visitors at our first exhibition! If you missed writing one, drop your thoughts in the comments!

#yakabikaj #kabikaj #exhibition #expo #rarebooks #books #book #bookworms #bookworm #bookclub #reader #readers #collection #collections #notes #feedback #visitors

Charles Dickens' Birthday 📖✨ Born on 7th Feb

Charles Dickens' Birthday 📖✨

Born on 7th February 1812, Charles Dickens gave the world some of the most enduring literary masterpieces. Among them, David Copperfield (1849-1850) was his most autobiographical work and a personal favourite.

Here, we share a c.1928 edition, published by Odhams Press, London, and printed by Greycaine Limited, Watford, Hertfordshire — a cherished piece from our collections.

This vintage hardcover is bound in brown, textured cloth designed to resemble faux leather, with gold gilt titles and embossed details, including the Odhams ship emblem. Its mottled brown cover, purple-brown dyed page edges, and decorated title page with a portrait of Dickens make it a true collector’s piece. The pages remain remarkably clean and bright, beautifully age-toned, and bound strongly—preserving the magic of Dickens’ timeless storytelling.

Audio: Dickens' poem "These things shall never die" composed by @kategarnermusic

#CharlesDickens #DavidCopperfield #VintageBooks #RareBooks #ClassicLiterature #Dickens #Charles #Odhams #London #Classics #Hardbound #Leather #Classic #Book #Edition #Rare #Literature #English #kabikaj
#yakabikaj #Hertfordshire #British #charlesdickensquote #bound #hardcover #binding

Watch as time and termites devour a book (in this

Watch as time and termites devour a book (in this case, a divan of a Hyderabadi Urdu poet — Ghulam Dastageer, from the 20th century era of the VIIth Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan).
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#termites #bookworms #paper #damage #urdu #poet #Hyderabadi #nizam #deemak #kabikaj #yakabikaj

SWIPE Postcards' designs inspired by some of the

SWIPE

Postcards' designs inspired by some of the rare books from our collections. Every purchase helps support the preservation of the books in our collections.

DM us to buy our postcards and contribute to keeping these treasures preserved!

#postcards #rarebooks #designs #munshinawalkishore #oldbooks #books #postcard #design #preservation #conservation #digitalart #digitisation #kabikaj #yakabikaj

Explore a curated selection of rare books and manu

Explore a curated selection of rare books and manuscripts, including a 1937 history textbook from Osmania University, a rare 1931 Urdu translation of Goethe's Faust, Masnavis of Maulana Rumi, works from Nawal Kishore Publications, and rare prints from the now-extinct presses of Hyderabad—alongside many other treasures from our Persian, Urdu & Dakhni collections.

In collaboration with The Deccan Archives Foundation

From our collections, is a 113 year old Urdu trans

From our collections, is a 113 year old Urdu translation of the Persian "Ruq'at e Aalamgiri" (Letters of Aurangzeb Alamgir) - which was published in the year 1911 at Assah ul Mataabi' Charkaman of Hyderabad Deccan.

"The ring with an emerald collet, which last night I selected for Qillich Khan, is simple (i.e., not engraved). Now I remember that his title is Chin Qillich Khan. You should write to the head of the jewellery department to call an engraver, to get the ring engraved with all his titles, and then send it to the above-mentioned Khan."

While dedusting, we came across a letter that mentions the emerald ring that was gifted to Mir Qamaruddin Khan Siddiqi by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. In 1690, Aurangzeb bestowed the title "Chin Qillich Khan" (boy swordsman) when Mir Qamaruddin Khan Siddiqi was 19 years of age, who later on became the founder of Asaf Jahi Dynasty and established an autonomous rule over the Deccan region in 1724. More on history by @deccanarchive

The pages of this edition are bound with thread, and a cover was added in the mid-1900s after the original binding came apart. We are currently removing termite damage, cleaning the pages, and digitising this book alongside many others.

1. Portrait of Asaf Jah I, ca. 1745
2. Original cover of the book, from our collections
3. Excerpt from letter 96, from our collections
4. Portrait of Aurangzeb, ca. 1680, The San Diego Museum of Art

#Nizam #asafjahidynasty #Aurangzeb #mughal #deccan #rarebook #manuscript #collections #ManuscriptCollections #preservation #digitisation #kabikaj #yakabikaj #thedeccanarchive #archives #urdu #persian #letters #history

Brushing off the dust and stepping into the past..

Brushing off the dust and stepping into the past...
We’re thrilled to share that our collection has grown with some incredible new treasures!
Stay tuned as we unveil them one by one - featuring rare early editions and handwritten Persian and Dakhni manuscripts.
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#rarebooks #earlyeditions #Manuscripts #persian #dakhni #urdu #ManuscriptCollection #CulturalPreservation #RareEditions #deccan #hyderabad #history #preservation #kabikaj #KabikajFoundation #yakabikaj #collections

Rai Lakshmi Narayan Shafeeq – an accomplished Pers

Rai Lakshmi Narayan Shafeeq - an accomplished Persian and Urdu scholar, compiled a tazkira (biographical anthology) in Persian in 1761 at the age of 18. This work was created in response to Mir's tazkira and includes detailed accounts of about 214 Urdu poets. Notably, Shafeeq organised his anthology by Abjad order rather than the usual alphabetical arrangement. He offers unbiased accounts of the poets, except for Yaqeen.

Maulvi Abdul Haq later edited Shafeeq's tazkira, adding comprehensive insights in the introduction that further elevated its scholarly significance.
In 1912, Abdul Haq became the secretary of Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu @urdughar , which was relocated to Aurangabad in 1913, where he was employed by the Nizam of Hyderabad. In 1938, the organisation moved its base to Delhi, operating under Abdul Haq's leadership until 1947.

This specific copy, from the collections of Hazrat Riasat Ali Taaj (who has also annotated the book with references and comments) by @anjumanef - is the first edition published by ATU Aurangabad in 1928.
The printing technology used and the book-binding craftsmanship kept the book alive even after a century.
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#Urdu #UrduLiterature #Tazkirah #Persian #Hindi #literature #poets #poet #book #rarebook #AnjumanTaraqqiUrdu #ATUH #Aurangabad #Hyderabad #Deccan #Dakan #Nizam #20thcentury #kabikaj #collections #classic

Explore this 6th edition of Tareekh e Hind – a cou

Explore this 6th edition of Tareekh e Hind - a course book on Indian history for matriculation students, published in 1937 by and for Osmania University.
Written in Urdu, it covers early, middle and modern Indian history. It also includes images and political and geographical map of the Indian Subcontinent. This copy, from the collections of Hazrat Riyasath Ali Taaj, features his additional notes and bibliography on the subject. The pages and binding of the book remains in good condition, even after almost 87 years.
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#History #Maps #Map #Hind #India #Archive #Osmania #osmaniauniversity #kabikaj #tda #oldbook #rarebook

A rare 1931 Urdu translation of Johann Wolfgang vo

A rare 1931 Urdu translation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 19th century Faust by Dr Syed Abed Hussain. Printed with technology based on German letterpress typography on what seems to be a blend of linen and cotton paper with oil-based ink --- this edition is a representation of printing craftsmanship and literary works of the early 20th century in the Indian subcontinent.

We are honoured to have this, from the collections of Hazrat Riyasath Ali Taaj. While some pages were damaged by termites and bookworms, we've managed to save the rest of this 93 year-old edition using book preservation techniques. This book's case-binding was done by Hazrat Riyasath Ali Taaj in the mid 1900s.

Sayyed Abid Hussain (1896–1978) was a scholar and translator who worked with Maulvi Abdul Haq at Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu in Aurangabad, Deccan, during the 1930s. In 1931, he translated the 19th century German Poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play Faust into Urdu. This image is from published translation.
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#BookPreservation #LiteraryHeritage #KabikajFoundation #HazratRiyasathAliTaaj #LiteraryGems #UrduLiterature #Goethe #Faust #BookHistory #RareBooks #CulturalHeritage #Translation #GermanLiterature #Letterpress #printing #urdu

Kabikaj exploring AKAORI (Abul Kalam Azad Oriental

Kabikaj exploring AKAORI (Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute) with Sibghat (@deccanarchive) & Riasath (@darkskies.brighteyes)

Cataloguing @darkskies.brighteyes' family collecti

Cataloguing @darkskies.brighteyes' family collections

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#books #manuscripts #heritage #library #libraries #book #manuscript #urdu #persian #arabic #archives #archive #repository #collection #collections #hyderabad #deccan #india #literature #kabikaj #kabikajfoundation

Replica by Ustad Abdul Ghaffar (Idara e Adabiyat e

Replica by Ustad Abdul Ghaffar (Idara e Adabiyat e Urdu, Hyderabad) of "Basmalah" that is attributed to Imam Ali.
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Quranic Calligraphy Exhibition at Salar Jung Museum Hyderabad.
28th April 2022
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#kabikaj #calligraphy #bismillah #imamali #ali #arabic #calligrapher #quran #museum #exhibition #exhibit #artists #artist #art #salarjungmuseum

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